Looking for things to schedule now the holidays are stretching ahead? We’ve got a selection of ideas here for a summer of family fun, including a musical journey, theatre schools, action packed days out and rocket fuelled adventures.
American Museums and Gardens
There’s a wealth of things to do at the American Museum & Gardens this summer: Brilliant Beasties Tues 19 Jul, 16 Aug, 13 Sep. Under 5s. SInging, rhyming, storytelling and making, while learning all about the Brilliant Beasties, our animal friends.
Forest of Imagination: Sun 24 Jul. The team return to the gardens for a free day of workshops for all, encouraging young visitors to engage with nature and explore their surroundings.
Children’s Yoga in the Gardens. Sats until 11 Sep. Ages 4-7. Children can enjoy the uplifting surroundings of the gardens, with these classes in designed to introduce yoga and mindfulness around a story or a theme that changes each week, ending with relaxation.
Claverton Manor, Claverton Down, Claverton, Bath BA2 7BD | 01225 460503 | americanmuseum.org
Wake The Tiger, The World’s ‘First Amazement Park®’
The creative masterminds behind the hugely successful immersive festival Boomtown Fair, announce Wake The Tiger, the world’s first Amazement Park®. The brand new, thrilling experience coming to Bristol this summer has been produced by a collection of over 100 artists including storytellers, poets, scenic artists, robotics experts, fabricators, costume makers, architects, videographers and prop makers. The Amazement Park® encompasses interactive environments and daring new experiences blurring the lines between an art gallery, theme park and film set, with a playful psychedelic twist throughout. Step through the secret portal into the amazing world of Meridia; a multi-layered maze of immersive environments, secret passageways, hidden rooms and so many fantastical wonders to lose yourself in. Within the labyrinth many stories are told or untold; all that is known is you will not be the same person you were when you entered, igniting the imagination of all ages.
127 Albert Road, St Philips, Bristol, BS2 0YA | wakethetiger.com | Instagram / Twitter: @wakethetiger
Bath Preservation Trust – Marvelous Museums
Bath Preservation Trust has plenty to keep young minds busy this summer. The immersive experience at No 1 Royal Crescent tells the story of a family in Bath for the season, following their lives and those of their servants. There is plenty for families to enjoy with the new children’s trail, app for kids as well as access resources for those with additional needs. Each week through the summer holidays the museum will be running handling sessions in the museum gallery. At The Herschel Museum of Astronomy you can explore the constellations with activities taking place in the museum gallery and planetarium shows at the Percy Community Centre. At Beckford’s Tower they’re getting crafty! Weekly drop in sessions for craft activities are taking place in the museum and landscape.
No1 Royal Crescent. The Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Beckford’s Tower | bath-preservation-trust.org.uk/museums
Aerospace Bristol – Summer of Rockets
Get ready to blast off on a rocket-fuelled adventure at Aerospace Bristol, with daily rocket activities to enjoy throughout the summer holidays. The rocket-themed fun includes launching water rockets, testing your aim on the rocket firing range, and helping to build and decorate a giant rocket. Plus enjoy fascinating talks and science shows, and learn more about Bristol’s amazing aerospace history, before stepping aboard the incredible supersonic Concorde.
Adults £18, children (aged 4+) £10, under-4s FREE. Family discounts available & all tickets include free return for 12 months.
Hayes Way, Patchway, Bristol, BS34 5BZ | aerospacebristol.org
Camp Teepee at The Paragon
The Paragon School’s popular day camp for 6-11 year olds returns this summer for more action-packed adventures in the great outdoors. Camp Teepee encourages children to learn new skills, develop confidence and have a great time in a safe woodland environment. A typical day will involve fire lighting, outdoor cooking, wood crafting, wild drumming, woodland detective games, shelter building, clay creature crafting and much more. The camps don’t go completely back to basics –there is access to the school toilets and fresh drinking water, but camps operate whatever the weather so prepare to get muddy!
Dates for summer 2022: 18th – 21 July and 22- 25 August. The cost per day is £40 per child. To find out more and to book a place visit: paragonschool.co.uk/holiday-clubs
The Paragon School, Lyncombe House, Lyncombe Vale, Bath BA2 4LT | paragonschool.co.uk/holiday-clubs
Bristol Zoo Gardens
Bristol Zoo Gardens is inviting people to celebrate its 185-year-plus history, ahead of its final opening day on 3 September. The Zoo is marking its last summer season with the ‘BIG Summer Send-Off’, a collection of fun-filled interactive activities and attractions, open for the duration of the school summer holidays. The centrepiece of the celebrations is a giant interactive sculpture, Wilder the gorilla, and her baby Monty-Alan. A collaborative timeline exhibit will evolve as visitors add their own thoughts and memories. And families can enjoy the fabulous theatre show, starring animal puppets and the audience as conservation heroes! Summer tickets are expected to sell fast. Book yours now.
College Road, Bristol, BS8 3HA | 0117 4285300 | bristolzoo.org.uk
Featured image: Aerospace Bristol